There was a short trip through the back alleys of Rome and the Vatican many of which seemed quite shady judging by their occupants. Though the occupants of the alley hardly seemed to intimidate or even phase the young woman. A few of them even nodded at her as she passed with obvious recognition and familiarity in their eyes as they watched her pass.

After their quick tour through the shadier parts of the Vatican the two came out onto a much more brighter and welcoming street. At first look it appeared to be a small shopping district but upon closer observations one would notice that most of the shops and businesses were primarily family or independently owned by locals of Rome. And unsurprisingly Ada knew a fair number of the business owners here as well. It wasn't hard to get to know people when you saw them nearly everyday especially when you helped keep some of the more shadier characters away from their businesses.

Ada glanced back at Marcus giving him a brief smile something about being out and about in town seemed to put a brighter shine on Ada's outlook. She pulled him along a bit faster until they reached the cafe she and Marcus both knew about. The outside of the cafe was small and generally plain save for the sign bearing a rose hanging above the door. The actual cafe was small as well having only about 5 tables pushed up against the walls inside along with one larger table in the middle of the room. The counter at the back of the main room had an older woman standing behind it who smiled and waved at Ada as she spotted the young woman and her companion through the window

"C'mon." Ada said pulling him into the cafe. Ada smiled at the elderly woman manning the cash register "Good morning Signora Rosa." Ada said her voice holding a tone of respect and courtesy that she rarely seemed to use.

_________________“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” -Marie Curie

Once again, he is following Ada. Not that he minds, but he finds it amusing that whenever she takes his hand and pulls him along, he willingly follows right along. It's a habit he'd picked up from her long line of "if you won't take care of yourself, I will" sort of thing, and he can't deny that she does a far better job of it than he does.

Her infectious smile brought out a slight one of his own, and it felt good to be able to even do something that small without it feeling forced or contrived. When they arrived at the cafe, Marcus was expecting Ada to release his hand, but her fingers remained firmly in his.

He nods and mumbles a polite "good morning" to the familiar woman behind the counter, and waits for Ada to order. He does have a slight issue with the state of his hand, as he rather needs it to pull his wallet from his coat. Squeezing her hand slightly, he waits for her to relax her fingers enough to remove his hand. He fishes out his wallet, and sets about pulling out the exact amount for their order; this has become a habit of sorts, where Ada orders her favourite and he orders the strongest thing available, and then pays for them both. It took him a while to get her accustomed to having something just this small paid for, but now it was simply second nature, and he was glad for the normalcy of it.

_________________Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be you dismayed: for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Ada had almost forgotten that her fingers were still intertwined with Marcus' maybe the act had just grown to be so natural over the course of their friendship. It wasn't until she'd felt his hands squeeze hers softly that she turned her head to look over at him. From his smiling face her eyes drifted lower to where their hands were still clasped together. She loosened her grip and slipped her hand from his own smiling apologetically before turning back toward the elderly woman behind the counter. Sadly the exchange between the two young people hadn't gone unnoticed by Signora Rosa.

The woman in question was giving Ada what appeared to be a warm smile but after years of coming to this cafe Ada had learned to decipher the true meaning behind the elder's smiles. The smile the old woman gave her was one that seemed to ask the question "When did you two become so close?". The smile was all it took for a Ada's eyes to widen at what the old woman seemed to be implying. Rather than question her though the old woman proceeded to pull out a notepad and instead asked Ada for her order. Ada quickly did so ordering her usual morning meal a prosciutto and egg panini, eclair and a caffe dominic.

Ada's order was quickly taken down and before Ada knew it she'd already ordered for Marcus as well having already good knowledge of what the boy seemed to like. "He'll have a Double Espresso with lots of sugar." Ada said. The woman nodded but once more her smile had slipped onto her lips. As Marcus pulled out his wallet to pay Ada felt the tiniest of urges to protest but she already knew that doing so would get them nowhere in the end Marcus would pay just like always.

As soon as the order was paid in full Ada turned to go take a seat at a the wall her seat facing the window like always almost like a subconscious response Ada's hand moved toward Marcus' own but he caught herself her fingers just barely brushing against his before she moved to take her seat.

_________________“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” -Marie Curie

He hadn't missed the older woman's look - and who would, with the obvious manner she gave it - but he paid it very little mind, as she was just fishing for gossip and he rarely had the time for that sort of thing. Ada's reaction gave him a bit of a pause, as he didn't think she would be thrown by something so innocuous; they have been judge before in public by countless others he as sure, but lately she seemed to be taking these judgments a little more to heart. It worried him that she might be somehow embarrassed by him or their friendship, and he made a mental note to ask her about it later.

He paid the bill in quick order, stuffing his wallet back into his coat as he turned to take his seat. As usual, she drifted to the seat facing the window, which suited him fine as he trusted her, enough so that he felt at ease here. But before he could take his seat, he feels a tingle of touch over his fingers again, and looks down to catch a glimpse of Ada's fingertips ghosting past his hand. There was a slight confusion in his sleep-addled brain, but he decides that if she actually wants to touch him, then maybe they were ok after all.

Before taking his seat, Marcus shuffles things about for a second, draping his bag over the back of a near chair and shucking out of his coat to drop it across the back of his own. He drops down with a slouchy sort of grace, then rolls his eyes as he feels his phone vibrate against his seat.

Pulling the bright tech out of his pocket, he once again declines the call and shoves it back into his pant's pocket; he doesn't give an explanation, though at this point he is fairly certain none is needed.

_________________Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be you dismayed: for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Ada sank unceremoniously into her chair draping one of her arms over the back of it as Marcus went about taking his own seat. She glanced toward Marcus to see him with his phone out once more declining yet another phone call. Part of her wondered why the hell it seemed O'Grady was so intent on getting Marcus to pick up. But yet another part of her reminded her that it wasn't any of her business and considering the way Marcus seemed to brush off each call it must not have been extremely important either. She leaned forward resting her arms on the tabletop as she glanced over Marcus' shoulder outside.

It was still cold outside but the cool weather didn't halt anyone from their daily routines. She could see parents with their children, young and old couples all walking about the small shopping district. The sun was veiled behind a cluster of grey clouds but so far it seemed that clouds were the only worries the day had in store. "So how are your classes going?" Ada asked drumming her fingers against the top of the table as she struck up conversation.

As she spoke the elderly woman from behind the counter shuffled over with a tray in hand placing the both orders of coffee in front of their respective owners. "Your food will be out in just a moment Ada." The woman said nodding at the younger girl. Ada nodded "Thank you Signora Rosa." Ada said smiling. Ada picked up her coffee and blew on it softly before taking a sip closing her eyes as the sweetness touched her taste buds. Once she placed her cup down she sighed "I needed that." Ada said smiling.

In truth what Ada had really needed was more than just coffee. It was being here outside of the orphanage with Marcus. Away from the things that just made her life so damned complicated. Out here it felt like she could just be normal again even for just a little bit.

_________________“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” -Marie Curie